The ten-time European champions are favourites ahead of tomorrow night’s first leg, having mounted an incredible comeback against Wolfsburg in the last round to reach the final four.
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In contrast to Manchester City, this is Real Madrid’s sixth successive Champions League semi-final. City did not win a single game in the Champions League the year before I got here, now we are in the semi-finals.
Real hope Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo can play after injuries. “The most important lesson is the last two Champions Leagues: we played in the round of 16 against Barcelona in three of the four games [and finished] with 10 men”. Everyone wants to continue, to play the final. Of the duel between Agüero and the former Manchester United forward, Pellegrini said: “It will be very good for the fans to see each player for each team”. “No matter who is on the pitch we all want to work together as a team”. “We play against one of the greatest clubs of all time and our support will be able to make the difference”.
Manager Pellegrini said: “It was very important to have our mind focused on this game and not on Tuesday”.
“We need to be try to be strong defensively because we know we’ll be put under pressure. I am sure that his role in this team will be very important”.
And Pellegrini added: “I don’t think he will be fit for Sunday (at Southampton), we will see how he improves during the week”. “I hope we win it this year”.
He told a news conference: “I don’t feel I have a point to prove – I’ve played long enough to be OK about that”.
Aside from the unseasonably cold April weather in Manchester, the Wales global said he was glad to be back but refused to attach any particular significance to his return.
Bale, who used to play in the Premier League for Tottenham, is relishing the opportunity to come back and play in English soil, but insists that a clean sheet is vital to Real Madrid’s chance of progression.
The teams have met before – in the group stage in the 2012-13 campaign when Ronaldo netted late to score in a 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Then we have the second leg in Madrid next week. It has lifted us in the Premier League.
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While City are targeting a first Champions League, Real are in pursuit of a record 11th.
